Micrometer means for positioning machine elements



5, 9 F. P.-KRusE 2,293,745

MICROMETER MEANS FOR POSITIONiNG MACHINE ELEMENTS I Original Filed 0 ct.31, 1938 uwewran FI'QdQI'lC/f I? lfruse .4 i'r onwsr la ten ted Aug. 25,1942 MICROMETER MEANs FOR, POSITIONING MACHINE. ELEMENTS Frederick P.Kruse, Vallejo, Calif.

Original application October 31, 1938, Serial No. d this application May23.

237,977. Divided an 1941, Serial No. 394,

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a micrometer means for accurately positioninga machine element and more particularly to the application of such adevice to the shifting or adjusting of the cutter-bar of a universalmilling machine in an axial direction. This application is a division ofmy co-pending application, Serial No. 237,977, filed October 31, 1938,for Worm gear cutting, now Patent No. 2,273,050, dated February 17,1942. In that application there was disclosed a method of cutting wormgears by means of a single tooth fiy cutter in a universal millingmachine. In following that method it becomes necessary to axially shiftthe cutter-bar of the milling machine a plurality of times during thecutting of each gear wheel. These shifts require the axial movement ofthe cutter-bar through short distances, with very accurate positioningof the cutter at the conclusion of each shift. The present inventionprovides a convenient and accurate means for accomplishing this result.It eliminates possibilities for errors which existed in prior devices ofthis type.

It is. an object of this invention to provide a micrometer adjustingmeans which will preclude the possibility of adding the value of apreviously made shift to one being made, where a succession of, suchshifts is required.

It is another object of this invention to provide such an adjustingmeans carrying a plurality of Vernier scales, any one of which may bemanually moved to any desired point with reference to the mainmicrometer scale without changing the setting of the micrometer.

Other objects will appear from consideration of the followingdescription and accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view partly in section of a micrometerpositioning device embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is any extension of the View shown in Fig. 1 showing the meansfor securing the right hand end of the cutter-bar shown therein;

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the left hand portion of the micrometerpositioning device as shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a sectional view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 2 taken online 44 thereof, and

Figs. 5, 6 and 7 are views of fragments of the mechanism shown in Fig.1.

The fiy-cutter 56, as shown in Fig. l, is carried by cutter-bar of auniversal milling machine.

The cutter-bar is supported at one end by a sleeve 52 which in turn isconnected to the spin- (116 through a conventional spindle drive head.

(Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as amended April 30, 1928; 370O. G. 757) This end of the cutter-bar is provided with a longitudinalslot 53. The end of the sleeve into which the cutter-bar fits isenlarged and is provided with a key 54 having a sliding fit in the slot53. The enlarged portion of the sleeve is provided with three tappedholes in which are screwed three screws having the function of lockingthe end of the cutter-bar to the sleeve. The center screw 55 ends in apin 56 which penetrates a hole in the key and serves to accuratelylocate it. The other screws 51 and 58 apply pressure behind the key tosecurely lock it in place in the slot 53.

The other end of the cutter-bar 5| is securely fastened in a sleeve 66which turns with it. The sleeve 60 rotates in bearing 6| forming a partof an outer sleeve 62, the latter being supported in a fixed manner bythe milling machine overarm supports 63 and 64. 7

At the free end of outer sleeve 62 is secured by screws a disk 65. Thisdisk is provided with a centrally located aperture carrying a bearingbushing 66 in which is rotatably carried a spindle 67. The spindle hasan outer reduced cylindrical section 68, and joining that section to theportion revolving in bearing bushing 66 is a collar formed with an outerconical face 16 acting as a seat for a graduated dial ll, which is heldin place on the section 68 and against seat 16 by a knurled nut 72.Keyed on the outer extremity of section 68 of the spindle is a knurledknob 73. Turning this knob moves the graduated dial. The spindle is heldagainst outward axial movement by means of a nut 74 abutting the innerend of bearing bushing 66. The inner end 75 of spindle 67 is threadedand engages with a nut 16 secured to a sleeve '11 which is slidablymounted in the bore of outer sleeve 62. The sleeve 77 is provided with alongitudinally extending keyway 73 into which is slidably but accuratelyfitted and held a taper ended pin 79 shown in detail in Figs-6 and 7.The sides of the keyway are inclined at the same angle as the taperedend of the pin. The pin is pressed into position by a leaf spring '86which is secured at one end to outer sleeve 62. 'Use of the tapered pinprevents, play between key and keyway, due to wear.

On the outer end of outer a collar 8! normally held immovable bysetscrew 82. On the outer face of the collar is an annular groove inwhich is seateda friction ring 85. Floatingon the end of outer sleeve,62 and abutting the inner face of disk is a Vernier ring 84. Thecircumferential part of this ring sleeve 62 'is threaded is flanged witha portion that encloses the periphery of the disk and is formed with anouter conical face which forms a continuation of the conical face of thegraduated dial. The conical ring face has inscribed thereon four vernierscales arranged as shown in Fig. 3. The friction ring 83 is providedwith eight equally spaced holes and the Vernier ring 84 is provided withan equal number of matching holes. In the corresponding holes arealternatively; placed; dowels 85 and springs 86. The dowelsslide-freely" in the Vernier ring and the springs serve to keep saidring lying snugly against the disk 65. The friction ring holds theVernier ringagainst accidental rotation but allows manual rotationthereof. The adjacent ends of sleeves 60 and 11 are provided with anvils8'! and 88 respectively, having hardened lapped faces. These anvilsserve as an accurate reference means for'measur ing by means of thegraduated dial the position of the cutter-bar and its cutter.

Thehma-nner of using the micrometer axialu shifting device-isasfollowsz. Suppose that 1 the desired shift-of the cutter is to be tothe right. with respectto the device; as-illustrated in Fig. 1. The:cutter-bar-is held-in a fixed longitudinal position -by;s1eeve- 52 andis also rotated thereby; Theother end of the cutter-bar is supported butnotlongitudinally'heldby bearing 6|; The.:an-

vils 3? and 88 are in lcontacti and the zero mark on the graduated dialis coincident with thezero. mark= on any selected one of: the vernieriscales. To shift the bar, the pressure ,onikeyi lziszreleasedto .freethat end. of thecutter-bar for movement: The cutter-baris then moved tothe new setting by turningknob 1-3, .andthe key. 55' is again forcedinto place. The ,Vernier .ringis then manually turned;until-xany-zerotmark on. it coincides with the zeromarkof the graduated dial, and againsecured in place; The graduated dial is now turnedinthe opposite.directionfrom. that used for shifting the-bar, unti-lpthe anvils.v 81and88 are no longer touching. Thefirst step in any subsequent shift;wil1fbe to turn the grade uated; dial untilth'e anvils ill and 183return. to contact and. the zero mark on; the dial coincides wit-h azeromark on ;tl ie- Vernier, iring; Tlie.;de-. sign and method; of using;the 1vernier ring:pre.-: eludes-confusion and errors incident -to.adding.

the value of one axial shift to. .successive axial shifts.

While the disclosure has beenrestricted to a particular embodiment oftheinvention relating to the axial positioningof; .the1cutterbar..o-f..'a universal. milling machine,,; it: ;is apparent thatitsfield of use extends; to the -.,accurate,. position-1 ingof--many;other types of machine .elements. Many changes in proportions,andarrangements of thevarious parts of the devioeare also pos.-. siblewithin the scope of the invention as defined: :by theappended claims.

The invention described herein may. be .manu factured and/ or usedby':or for the Government of -the United States of America for governemental purposeswithout I the payment. .of. :any. roy alties thereon ortherefor.

Iclaim:

l. A micrometer axial shifting 1 device-for a horizontal cutter-bar of amilling machine, comprising; a sleeve -member supporting one end of. thecutter-bar against axial. movement,. means for releasing said one end ofsaid. cutter-barat will for axial movement a second-sleeve supportingthe other end of said cutter-bar but' ale lowing .free rotational andaxial movement thereof, and micrometer means for moving said cut ter-barin an axial direction. said means com prising a spindle carried by saidsecond sleeve and held against axial movement, said spindle beingthreaded over a portion of its1length, a sleevemember engaging. saidthreads and longitudinally movable upon rotation of said spindle tormovesaid cutter'bar in an axial direction, a graduated, dial fixed to saidspindle, means to manually rotate said spindle, an annular member havinga face forming a continuation of said graduated dial, a plurality ofVernier scales upon said face, and means fixed with respect to saidsecond sleeveandxirictionally engaging said ann'ular memberin a mannerto hold it against axial movement with respect to said second sleeve,said frictional engagement being so regulated as to allow manual.rotation of said member but to .prevent accidental rotational movementthereof.

2. A micrometer device for accurately positioning a machine elementcomprising; a supp.ort, ,-an

outer; sleeve; immovably carried by-='said"support';*.a.;spindlerotatably; mounted in. said sleevecbut'; held fromlongitudinal :movement :with respect'. thereto; said spindlesbeingr.threaded .overra-pOr; l tionof:'its :length, la-ggraduatedfdial ,fi'xedto said 1 spindle, .means :to mamiallyrotate. saidspindle, an innersleeve having an internallythreaded'portiorimeshing .with :the threadson. :said: spindle...

j means preventing. rotational :movement of :saidpl inner sleeve; saidzinner: sleeve'having :"a" portion a abutting .the- .machine telementiforgmovement; of the latter, an -.annular 'memberr'mountemuponlsaid.;outer. sleeveand:.having;:a fa'ce:.formirig;ra.z.

zcontinuationzof 'saidcgraduated diaha plurality.

of :vernier scalesuporrsaidgface, and :means fixed; with respect:tosaid; oute'nsleeve :and. frictionally engaging 'said; annular member.in a manner to'-. hold. it against axial movement; with'respectito:

';said:outer sleeve;.said frictional engagement beings;

so..regulated :as .to allow manual :rotatiorrofr-said member buttoprevent; accidental rotational; movement thereof.

3.; A .micrometerdevice for axially positioning wa machine element;comprising; asupport; an:

outer: sleeve irnmovably carried .loy 'said support,: a.spindlerotatably mounted in; said .sleieve..but held from longitudinal.movement .with? respect thereto, said. spindle z-being threaded-moveraportionof its length, argraduatedz'dial fixed to :said spindle,- .meansto manually rotate said spindle, an. .inner sleeve having. an internally:threaded portion meshing :with thethreads of said spindle, alongitudinally extending .keyway formed hr the A peripheryof; saidinner. sleeve. said keyway having inwardly converging sidewalls, .ataper endedipin slidably mounted in said outer sleeve, the tapered"endof said pins'formingra.wedging lit with said keyway; a; springpressingsaid pin intosaid keyway, an annular member mounted upon saidouter sleeve-andhaving-a .face forming a continuation of said:graduatedcdial a plurality of. Vernier scales upon saidface; and meansfixed :w-ith 're--- spect to said. .outer sleeve .and:fricti'onally-engaging said annular vmember 'in' a manner to. hold itagainst axial movement withi respect-to said outer;- sleeve, saidfrictional engagementbe ing so regulatedas (to.rallov. ..:manual,rotation 'ofi said-member but to prevent accidental rotational movementthereof.

movement of said driving means to linearly position said machineelement, said driving means having a portion formed with a circularboundary concentric with the axis of rotation of said driving means, ascale formed along said circular boundary, a member having a circularboundary juxtaposed to and concentric with the circular boundary of saiddriving means, a plurality of reference points formed on said memberadjacent said circular boundary, means holding said member againstmovement with respect to said support in the axial direction of saiddriving means and frictionally engaging said member in la manner toprevent free rotation thereof while permitting forceful manual rotationthereof.

FREDERICK P. KRUSE.

